Alpha probe

Claim 1

A large aperture alpha radiation detector device comprising in combination, (a) a rectangular single funnel scintillation chamber having a large rectangular mouth area opening where scintillations are generated, and having a substantially smaller neck area opening where the target of a scintillation detector may be disposed to directly view the funnel mouth with no other physical structure disposed between the funnel mouth opening and neck opening and to generate signals in response to viewed scintillations, the inside surface of said scintillation chamber between said mouth opening and neck opening being coated with a highly reflective light dispersive coating. (b) a side window photomultiplier tube scintillation detector disposed in a housing affixed to the neck end of said scintillation chamber with the scintillation detector target disposed as aforesaid at the funnel neck opening, (c) a flat screen scintillator of substantially the same area as and positioned at the scintillation chamber mouth with its plane substantially orthogonal to the funnel axis, said scintillator being responsive to alpha particles radiation, (d) a flat window of substantially the same size as, and with its plane parallel spaced closely to, but separated from, said scintillator, and facing the side of said scintillator which faces the mouth of said scintillation chamber, said window being transparent to alpha particles radiation but opaque to light to which said scintillation detector is responsive, and (e) quick release retainer means operative to securely detachably lock scintillator and flat window to said scintillation chamber across the mouth of and closing said scintillation chamber.